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Alert 2009-20 | November 18, 2009
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Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Director, Office of Thrift Supervision; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsel; and All Examining Personnel
The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks issued in the bank's name and using a correct routing number of 086300025 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a sweepstakes scam.
The counterfeit checks do not resemble the bank's authentic items and may be identified by the following traits: the instruments are blue in color with and include the following security statement in the top border: "FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, THE FACE OF THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COLORED BACKGROUND AND MICROPRINTING IN THE BORDER." The following statement is located under the Pay to the Order of line: "THIS DOCUMENT HAS A MICRO-PRINT SIGNATURE LINE WATERMARK AND THERMO CHROMIC INK, ABSENCE OF THESE FEATURES WILL INDICATE A COPY." The following security statement is printed in the bottom border between two padlock icons: "SECURITY FEATURES INCLUDED, DETAILS ON BACK.
Items presented to date have been made payable in the amount of $4,950 and contain a remitter name of "Teresa Williamson."
Due to possible variations between the appearance of the bank's authentic items and the counterfeit items associated with the scam, officials of Integra Bank, N.A., suggest they be contacted to verify authenticity of the bank's cashier's checks if received by an unknown entity.
Correspondence accompanying the counterfeit checks may contain the letterhead of "Access Financial Services UK, 5718 Gateway Blvd, London-United Kingdom, Tel: 1-866-229-9974." The correspondence informs the recipient that he or she has been selected as a winner in a sweepstakes drawing. The letter states that the enclosed check is to be used to pay the applicable Government Service Tax for non-United Kingdom residents (GST). Recipients are advised to contact claims agent Norman Richardson or Lisa Waters at 1-866-229-9974.
For additional information and guidance, and to verify the authenticity of Integra Bank, N.A.'s cashier's checks, please contact Kelly Schwartz, AVP/Security Officer, 21 SE 3rd Street, Evansville, IN 47708, by telephone at (812) 461-5765, or via email at [kschwartz@integrabank.com].
Consumers who receive counterfeit or fictitious items and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:
Additional information concerning this matter that should be brought to the attention of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) may be forwarded to
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Special Supervision Division 400 7th St. SW, Suite 3E-218; MS 8E-12 Washington, DC 20219 Phone: (202) 649-6450 Fax: (571) 293-4925 www.occ.gov occalertresponses@occ.treas.gov
For additional information regarding other types of financial fraud, please visit the OCC's anti-fraud resources page.
/signed/
Richard C. Stearns Director for Enforcement & Compliance
